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Encounters with the

Archdruid  John McPhee

Presented by: Emily Krodel

September 20, 2005

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JOHN A. McPHEE• Born in 1931• Educated at Princeton &

Cambridge•

Began writing forTime 

 magazine, New Yorker  • 29 books• 1977 received Award in

Literature from AmericanAcademy of Arts andLetters

• 1999 Pulitzer Prize forAnnals of the Former World

–  “It‟s pretty nice.” 

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MORE McPHEE• Widely considered pioneer of

the genre of literary non-fiction (New Journalism)

• Subjects are eclectic, reflectinghis personal interests… aircraft,

arc of tennis balls, canoes,farmers‟ markets, MS River,geology, Alaskan wilderness,oranges

• Married twice – Yolanda!; 4daughters

• Distinguished nonfiction writinginstructor at Princeton – stillteaches at 74

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EVEN MORE McPHEE• Despite a voluminous

production, as a person heremains elusive

• Modest – nothing morethan an “old journalist” 

• Loves rivers and theoutdoors – probably leanstoward conservationist

side, but depicts bothsides equally well• Curious – practices the art

of “immersion” 

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Encounters with

the Archdruid

• McPhee‟s 7th book, published in 1971

•

Won the National Book Award - categoryof science

• Personalities of both sides of the Americanenvironmentalist movement

• Depicts the complexities of ecological issues

• Profiles famous conservationist DavidBrower

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• Composed of 3 distinct sections– Cascades with Charles Park… mineral engineer 

– Hilton Head/Cumberland Island with Charles

Fraser… resort developer – Colorado River with Floyd Dominy… dam builder 

• Common character in each is David Brower(and John McPhee)

• Spend time in the outdoors, “discussing”philosophies and environmental practices

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ENVIRONMENTALIST  

MOVEMENT• first became active in U.S. politics after

Earth Day in 1970.– Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act– EPA: Environmental Protection Agency– Wastes, toxic substances, pesticides,

endangered animals• Most activism directed towards

conservation and prevention/elimination ofpollution• As population and industry increase,

conflicts with libertarians and corporateinterests

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DAVID BROWER• 1912-2000

• The Archdruid himself– “druids” – slang term for

environmentalists who will sacrificepeople to save trees

•

Most notable conservationist of alltime• Born in Berkely

– Isolated childhood– Nicknamed “toothless boob” – Mother blind, led her around–

Family camping trips• Dropped out of college to become

a mountaineer• WWII, mountain division• Married Anne Hus in 1941

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BROWER• Single handedly saved many belovedplaces in U.S. – deserves respect• Knowledgeable and committed• Concerned with long-term effects

of human change to the earth• But stubborn with simplistic

arguments, figures can be skewed– Reservoirs will fill with silt, but not for

a long time– Italy dam disaster – didn‟t really break 

•Lives in a house – hypocritical?

• Sometimes doesn‟t consider veryreal human needs– Water for people in the desert

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SIERRA CLUB• Sierra Club

– Executive director ‟52-‟69 – Membership 7,000 to 70,000– Books – exquisite collection of photographs–

His cup– Was ousted from office, 10 to 5: too radical, spent too

much money, too selfish, not in tune with the Clubanymore, and immigration viewpoints.

• Also in 1969, founded Friends of the Earth–

Kicked out of this too– Largest environmental group in the world

• Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize 3 times – ‟78,‟79, „98 

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THE SERMON• “The U.S. has 6% of the world‟s population and

uses 60% of the world‟s resources. When onecounty gets more than its share, it builds tensions.War is waged over resources.” 

• “We have to drop our standard of living, so thatpeople a thousand years from now can have anystandard of living at all.” (gas, oil) 

• “Roughly 90% of the earth has felt man‟s handalready. That‟s the limit. We should go backover the 90 and not touch the remaining 10%.” 

• “When rampant growth happens in an individual, wecall it cancer.” 

• “Conservationists have to win again and again andagain. The enemy only has to win once.” 

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GLACIER PEAK WILDERNESS/CASCADE RANGE

• Washington

• Wilderness Act 1964 – Congress set aside certain

regions as “permanentwilderness”. No nationalpark, no machines, nolumbering– Mining exception

• Copper lode .5mi square

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CHARLES PARK… • Geologist, mineral engineer• “Minerals are where you find

them. The quantities are finite.So you go and get them whereverthey are located.”

• Hunted for copper, silver, gold• Doesn‟t like Sierra Club – accuses

of being preservationists, notconservationists. Says you can‟t

avoid change.• “My idea of conservation is

complete use of resources, withas little waste as possible, forthe benefit of all the people.” 

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vs. DAVID BROWER• “The Glacier Peak Wilderness is probably

the most beautiful piece of country we‟vegot. Mining copper there would be likehitting a pretty girl in the face with ashovel.” 

• Mining would leave a path of destruction,waste dump… recommends recycling 

• Ecosystem is delicate, disruption would besevere

• Wilderness is the bank for the geneticvariability of the earth.

• However, got excited when he foundcopper pebbles in a stream

• “Conservation is humanity caring for thefuture.” 

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HILTON HEAD• Sea Pines Plantation

• Complete control

•

Buildings all blendinto environment

• Houses far from

ocean

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CUMBERLAND ISLAND• Hammond‟s map didn‟t include it – 

deliberate omission• Population of 11• Wild horses and pigs, 14 ft

alligators, fertile soil, no bridge• Carnegies• Fraser obtained 3000 acres• Toured it with Brower and McPhee• Gave it up b/c of pressure from

druids•

Developed, popular tourist site now• JFK, Jr. and Carolyn Bessette

married there in ‟96 

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CHARLES FRASER• Visionary – wanted to create

something beautiful… had idea forSea Pines Plantation at 21.

•  Yale Law School• Locally, considered a major andabsolute nut• Considers himself a true

conservationist. Others more likepreservationists; calls them druids,

so Brower should be his #1 enemy• Cocky: “I‟m the golden boy of the

Golden Isles.” • Died in a boating explosion off coast

of Provo in Dec. 02

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vs. DAVID BROWER

• Makes his typical comments, but surprisinglysupportive

• Liked youthfulness of Fraser and prospect ofthe island being focused toward children – thought they would do better with the earth

• Was enjoying himself on new territory andlapsed into uncharacteristic passivity – wouldn‟teven call him a druid

• Even wanted to reverse his 90:10 philosophy!• “If it had to be developed, I‟m glad it was

developed by him.” • Eventually started talking about conserving the

marshes, went into the Sermon, Fraser ignoredhim

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FLOYD DOMINY•

Began job as a county agent duringthe Great Drought• Obsessed with irrigation and dams• Profound, lifelong belief in the

storage of water• Head of Dept. of Reclamation ‟59-

‟71. “Reclamation is the father ofputting water to work for man – irrigation, hydropower, flood

control, recreation.” • Responsible for many dams,

notably Glen Canyon Dam/LakePowell – Colorado River

• Wanted to flood the Grand Canyon• “Let‟s USE our environment.” 

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CONSERVATIONISTSAND DAMS

• Analogy: outermost circle of Devil‟s world is amoat filled with DDT. Next to it, a moat of

burning gasoline. Then a ring of pinheads, eachcovered with a million people. Bulldozers andchainsaws lead into the absolute epicenter of Hellon earth, where stands a dam.

• Hold themselves in reasonable check before new oilspills, but go insane at even the THOUGHT of adam.

• Rivers are the ultimate metaphor of existence, anddams destroy rivers.

•

Threat to ecosystems and species (condors)

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vs. DAVID BROWER• Got along pretty well despite their

opposing views – joking insults• “I hate all dams, large and small.” • “You can‟t duplicate this experience – 

this lake – anywhere else. But neithercan you enjoy the original experience.” 

• Ends up saying that he‟s not in favor ofdams, but he‟s in favor of Dominy 

•

And then, “Putting water in GlenCanyon was like urinating on the cryptof St. Peter‟s. I hope it neverhappens here (Grand Canyon).” 

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COLORADO RIVER

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LAKE POWELL

• 600,000 people a year use this lake

now… used to just be a handful 

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WHAT SHOULD WE DO?

• People are caught in the middle– Want to be conservationists, but alsoneed power and water

• Vote always about 50:50– Schoolchildren: houses on a beach?Mining copper? Building a dam in the CO

River?

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OPINIONS• Interesting, well-written, anddescriptive (similes, metaphors)

• Well-developed characters• Forces you to pick a side, but doesn‟tmake it “good vs. evil” 

• Quite outdated–Prices ($25 for a book was an“investment”, Hilton Head condos) 

– Baltimore Colts

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CONNECTIONS• Sierra Club

• “aesthetic” at least 8 times 

• Personal ones – Hilton Head, esp.

• Review paper last week – Pacific salmon andriparian environments

• Ecology with Dr. Hochwender–

Presently talking about how riparianenvironments are negatively influenced by dams

• Sorry, no Gilgamesh ones

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REFERENCES• www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?cid=982496 

• www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McPhee 

• www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movement_in_the_United_ States 

• www.johnmcphee.com 

• www.odu.edu/ao/instadv/quest/workofjohnmcphee.html 

• www.pulitzer.org/year/1999/general-non-fiction/bio 

• www.goodbyemag.com/nov00/brower.html